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    Piano Concerto No.2 in C minor Opus 18 (1) Sergei Rachmaninov

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    The 16 worst classical Christmas album covers

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    Ho-ho-no! It's time for a look at the very worst in festive album artwork from the classical music world, from Roberto Alagna's hair to Arthur Fiedler's moustache and a cameo from Jeremy Beadle. Brace yourselves...

    1. bad christmas album covers

      1. Roberto Alagna - The Christmas Album

      Looks like Michael Bolton's hair and his mum's gloves were on the Christmas list this year. Season's greetings, Roberto!

    2. bad christmas album covers

      2. Christmas with Kiri Te Kanawa

      Dame Kiri is so excited about Christmas this year that she's decided to wear nothing but Christmas decorations.

    3. bad christmas album covers

      3. Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra - Great Orchestral Music of Christmas

      Creepiest. Christmas. Ever.

    4. bad christmas album covers

      4. Anne Sofie von Otter - Home For Christmas

      OK, so there's a massive ghost version of ASVO, a creepy beach scene and a child on some sort of weird camping chair being pushed by an unknown adult. If that's Christmas in the Otter household, we dread to think what happens at New Year.

    5. bad christmas album cover

      5. A Brass Band Christmas

      The Brass Band is one of the most noble musical ensembles in existence. The history, the community, the gravitas, the incredible music. As you can see, the medium is in safe hands here.

    6. bad christmas album covers

      6. Arthur Fiedler & The Boston Pops - A Christmas Festival

      You're not fooling anyone, Arthur. Give the suit back now.

    7. bad christmas album covers

      7. Herbert von Karajan - Ein Weihnachtskonzert

      Oh thanks. A French horn. You shouldn't have.

    8. bad christmas album covers

      8. Canadian Brass - Christmas Time Is Here

      We can't fault the repertoire on this album, but the horrifying cover art is all over the place. And you'd think they'd get cold, gaily larking about on that incredibly realistic ice rink.

    9. bad christmas album covers

      9. Canadian Brass - The Christmas Album

      Sorry guys. Another entry for Canadian Brass. No matter how hard you parp your brass at that tree, it's not going to make it a merry Christmas.

    10. bad christmas album cover

      10. The Most Fabulous Christmas Classical Christmas Album Ever

      We know, we know, it's not right to play the 'highbrow' card when it comes to classical music. But really. Poodles? A sun with a face on it? A sequined sack with a cello coming out of it? Many, many composers are turning in their graves.

    11. bad christmas album cover

      11. Dionne Warwick & Placido Domingo - Christmas in Vienna II

      As unlikely pairings go, this is one of the strongest we've seen. Worth it for the kid in front of Placido's expression alone.

    12. bad christmas album covers

      12. James Galway's Christmas Carol

      In which a scarfed Jeremy Beadle annoys the neighbours with his incessant flute-playing.

    13. bad christmas album covers

      13. Christmas with the Choral Scholars of King's College, Cambridge

      "What do you mean we forgot to do the album artwork? Oh never mind, just knock something together with MS Paint, no-one will know. Clip-art's really popular now anyway."

    14. bad christmas album covers

      14. Christmas Carols from Winchester Cathedral

      Because nothing says Christmas like identical twin choirboys and a candle the size of a grandfather clock.

    15. bad christmas album cover

      15. Vienna Boys Choir - Christmas in Vienna

      You know, this one wouldn't be so bad if they actually looked like they were enjoying themselves. Even the dog looks clinically fed-up.

    16. bad christmas album cover

      16. Wurlitzer Christmas

      Two disturbing things: the ghostly image of Santa's slippers (are they slippers, actually?) on the pedals, and the fact that someone has made a Wurlitzer Christmas album.

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